101 music students and teachers leave Kabul and must come to Portugal
101 students and music teachers encouraged Kabul to board a plane this Monday and subsequently are expected to come to Portugal, said Tuesday the director of the National Institute of Music of Afghanistan (ANIM).
Fearing that they would be victims of reprisals by the Taliban who, during their first period in power, [entre 1996 e 2001] had banned the music, 101 ANIM members landed on Monday night in Doha, M. Sarmast to the France-Presse (AFP) news agency.
The group, about half made up of women and girls, should come to Portugal with the support of the Portuguese government, said the institute’s founder, who is a refugee in Melbourne, Australia.
That operation was delicate right up to the last minute, said Sarmast. With the help of the Qatar embassy in Kabul, the musicians were transported in small groups to the city’s airport.
At first, the Taliban – who control the airport in Kabul – expressed doubts about their visas, but the problem was finally resolved by the Qatar authorities.
When the flight finally took off with the musicians on board, especially girls from the orchestra “Zohra”, aged 13 to 20, they were greeted with immense emotion. “This is the happiest time of my life,” said Sarmast, who admits to having cried a lot.
That flight resulted from a long superior since the Taliban came to power and required a lengthy and intense preparation. “As soon as the Taliban came to power in Kabul, musicians were discriminated against. The Afghan people were silenced once again,” said Sarmast.
Since returning to power in August, the Taliban have tried to reassure the Afghan people and the international community that they will be less rigid than in the past.
However, they will rule the country according to their strict interpretation of sharia law.
The policy you want to apply towards obscure favorable music.
Asked by the Lusa news agency about the reception of Afghan musicians in Portuguese territory, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) states that “Portugal has participated, from the very beginning, in the ongoing international efforts to welcome Afghan citizens”.
“So far, 214 Afghan refugees have arrived in national territory, and this number varies frequently. Naturally, we do not publicly comment on any operational aspects relating to the arrival in Portugal of people and groups in situations of vulnerability or risk particular, “said the MNE.